The Impossible Still Happens
Luke 1:26-38
In the sixth month the
angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of
the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord
is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said
to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear
a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give
to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no
end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The
Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be
holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is
the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here
am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
God never asks us to do what we can do on our own. He never promises
what is possible in only human power. This is one of the great lessons of the
Christmas story.
The young Virgin Mary was just minding her own business. She had already done what she could do. She had lived for
God and fulfilled her daily duties. Then the angel shows up. What he has to tell her is totally impossible. “You
will become pregnant and have a baby boy. He will be the Son of the Most High. He will rule from the throne of his ancestor David over a kingdom that will never
end.” What!? All this said
to an unmarried young virgin girl. Even she was startled. Then the angel goes on with the next set of impossible promises.
“You won’t get pregnant by a man. The Holy Spirit will come
upon you. Therefore, the baby will be holy and be the Son of God.”
None of this was possible by itself.
It would certainly take divine intervention. And, that is why the angel’s
reminder to her is so important. “For
nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37).
As we seek to do His will and to see His purpose fulfilled in our lives,
this is what we must remember. NO, WE CAN’T DO IT! But it is not about our abilities or our inabilities. It doesn’t
rest on our perfection, or lack of it. It is not about us. It is about God. And, nothing is impossible with Him. Just as He fulfilled all the promises of the Old Testament about the coming of Christ,
so will He fulfill His purpose for us (Psalm 138:8).
Remember those words. You
can…; you will…; it (whatever “it” is) will happen. NOTHING
WILL BE IMPOSIBLE WITH GOD!
Merry Christmas!
Father David A. Barrett
